Shiny New Year
Hi friends! Happy 2011 🙂 Wishing you a year filled with health, love and happiness <3 I have a good feeling about this one!
Along with the fresh new year, there’s fresh SNOW on the mountains!
…..and that’s as close as I’ll be getting to said snow 😉
So last night, my nana and tata, mom, brother and I hit up a place that I’ve been wanting to try for a while:
Monkey Burger!
Not only do they have a crazy awesome burger menu (including veg options), they also have sweet potato fries:
Rule of thumb: if you have sweet potato fries, you are my friend 🙂
I enjoyed my bucket of fries with the mushroom burger, no bread:
(portobello mushrooms, roasted red pepper and caramelized onions)
and shared a goat cheese and veggie salad with the fam:
It was basically the meal of my dreams 😉
The original plan for New Years Eve was to go out with my friends downtown. A Casablanca band was playing at the Rialto theater, and a lot of the unique downtown clubs were hosting events. After work, I just wasn’t feeling it. I was excited to go out and party with my friends, but something about going out without the Pilot made me sad, especially since pretty much all of my friends have significant others. I don’t usually feel like a 5th wheel when I’m with them, but I kept picturing everyone kissing at midnight and me fist-pumping by myself. Haha.
So I came back to the house, put on a hoodie and jeans, and was then picked up by my family, who kidnapped me and took me bowling with the fam.
There were about 20 of us, and it was so much fun. Bowling definitely isn’t my forte, but it’s more about the dance you do after you knock down some pins than the actual score, anyway 😉
Anyone else have a random New Years Eve adventure?
This morning, I’m off to yoga and then going to get tamale ingredients- see ya later with a how-to post!
Have a wonderful day 🙂
xoxo
Gina
Something to do: Your 2011 inspiration board!! It’s time 😀 If you finish yours before tomorrow (Sunday) night 10pm EST, send it my way and I’ll include it in my Monday am post, along with my inspiration board.
53 Comments
Leave a Comment
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
I did the SAME THING last night and it was glorious! I wasn’t able to be with my fam for Christmas so they came to DC. Since they’re here for a week I was planning on going out with friends, but something kept telling me to stay with the fam. It turned out to be one of my favorite NYE’s yet 🙂
Glad you had a good one! Happy New Year chica 😉
I rang in the New Year at work which wasn’t exactly fun, but when I got home the hubby had recorded the ball dropping, so we opened a bottle a champange and watched the ball drop via the DVR, ha 🙂 Glad you had a good NYE with your family! If I were in your situation, I probably would’ve done the same thing. Hope next year you and the Pilot will get to ring in 2012 together 🙂
so glad you went with your vibe, gina, and did what YOU wanted to do – i can understand how you would miss the pilot on new year’s eve…bowling with your fam is a fun (and slightly goofy in a good way!) alternative!
one of my goals for 2011 is to do what sits right in my heart, not just what i think others expect me to do. i’ve learned you just can’t go wrong with this method!
happy new year!
omg waffle sweet potato fries!
i’m pretty sure it doesn’t get better than that 😉
And sweet potato waffle fries? EVEN BETTER! I didn’t have a super crazy NYE but my first breakfast of 2011 is about to be Perfect Protein Pancakes a la Gina 🙂 I’m workin’ like a mad woman to have my inspiration board done by tomorrow night! HAPPY NEW YEAR
there was a comic in the newspaper this AM (I think family circle) and the little boy opened the front door and said “I thought this was supposed to be a new year; it looks just like the old one”
your title totally reminded me of that 🙂
hahah! cute 🙂
Ooh sweet tater fries… you’ve just given me a new craving! 😛
Can’t wait to see your inspiration board! 🙂
Waffle sweet potato fries?! Want. :p My New Year’s was pretty low-key. Like you, I hung with mi familia. I definitely had a “singles awareness moment” watching the ball drop on TB and seeing a ton of couples kiss.
*TV…sorry…apparently I need some proofreading skills in 2011. 🙂
We had a party here but it was low-key: sweatpants party!
that’s my kind of craving 🙂
I love bowling, but I’m pretty awful at it. It’s still fun though, especially galactic bowling! Happy New Year!
i’m horrible too! i broke my high score of 35 last night though 😉
Happy New Year!
I used your substitution suggestion this morning at breakfast. the waitress looked at me funny when i asked for a side salad instead of toast at 8:30 in the morning, but it was no problem. egg white scramble, delish side salad and strawberries – what a great way to start the new year!
Have a great year, Gina! I look forward to following your new adventures!
that sounds delicious! 🙂
That sounds like a baller NYE to me! 🙂 I will posting my inspiration board (along with my goals) on Monday too!! 🙂
Not only sweet potato fries, but waffle sweet potato fries: Yum! Looks like such a fun New Year’s Eve.
Happy New Year!
One of those eat while you watch a movie place as sweet potato french fries…I HAVE to order them every time I go. I’d take sweet potato french fries over regular any day!
Last night was my karaoke debut! My friend had a house party for NYE and her birthday. I went with the classic California Dreamin’ by The Mamas and The Papas. I think I need one more drink in me to be truly entertaining! Still a blast!
Happy New Year Gina!
i’m the same way about sweet potato fries. at least if they are made correctly. i’ve had a very few instances where the sweet potato fries were not made to perfection, and that was just… tragic.
I just finished my inspiration board for 2011 and I’m so excited to blog about it on Monday. PS – I am wearing the exact same Lulu scuba hoodie as you as I type this!
twins!
Sweet potato WAFFLE fries? Does it get any better? Also, I had the realization last night that NYE may be more couple focused than Valentine’s Day. How weird is that?
sounds like you had a great night, and with the fam, thats nice!
We just had 2 friends over and played games and ate some food. it was great, i’m more low key like that anyways, couldn’t have been any better.
that sounds wonderful- i’m a big fan of low key 🙂
That meal looks awesome! Glad you enjoyed your New Years! Seems like the change in plans worked out for the best! OK, so maybe you’re not the best bowler, but I’m sure you would dominate in a yoga pose-off! 😉
hahah, thank you
We had fondue and wine and whole foods desserts… ’twas perfect 🙂 Happy new year friend!
Happy new year Gina!! Glad you had fun ringing in the new year. Thanks for the reminder on the inspiration board- it’s the perfect project for me tonight and tomorrow!! Hope you’re having a fabulous first day of the year 🙂
Black Angus also has sweet potato fries! I was super impressed with their menu.
what?! we passed black angus last night and i was wondering if they had anything good 🙂
I am so sorry you missed the pilot 🙁 I hope he comes home this year!
Girl I have totalllllly been in your shoes…looking forward to going out and whooping it up and then the time comes and Im totally meh about it all. Or even just plans in general, sometimes they sound so good a month or week beforehand but the time comes, and I’m not into them at all. Glad you made the most of things bowling b/c yes, I feel for you that you didnt have your Pilot.. Hugs!! 🙂
I worked so wasn’t with Scott either, but hey, it just had to be that way.
Happy 2011!
I went out with some friends last night because my boyfriend was working a graveyard shift and ended up having a blast. I drank Shirley Temples and I’m pretty sure our waitress thought I was an idiot. 🙂
Aww, that sounds like an awesome way to ring in the New Year! I went a more traditional route but I love random adventures like that.
Hi Gina, I love your inspiration board idea, but I am not so crafty and creative. I did pimp the idea a little bit in my blog and I hope I sent some people your way. I’m excited to see your plans for 2011!
I’m glad you had fun, girl!
Happy New Year!
xoxo
Oh sweet potatoe waffle fries?! I’ve never had those before..they have to be amazing.
Happy New Year!
Sweet potato fries are SO good. I just made parsnip fries, and although they’re yummy too, they just don’t compare! Happy New Year 🙂
There’s something very comforting about spending new years with family!
I’m glad you had fun 🙂
Happy New Year!!
Happy New Years!
With a 5-month old in the house, our options were staying home and staying home. I did manage to make it to midnight and I can’t remember how long that’s been!
BTW, I have the exact same pair of nike sneaks – had to share!
Just wondering what brand of Brown Rice Bread you buy. I have some brown rice flour but haven’t had the motivation to find a recipe 🙁
My husband had to work a night shift so it was a New Years of just girls celebrating at an Irish Pub downtown. Low key and fun. Happy New Year!
back in college, i pretty much invented the Bump n Roll dance move. every time i’m with my girls dancing, it always comes up. so last nite, Bump n Roll was def in full effect and was doing it ample amount of times!! :)) and i made it to my sun salutations/meditation this morning (head was spinning during savasanna) but i managed! hahah happy new year gina!!
Lately I’ve turned down hanging out with friends to be with my family on a few occasions. Sometimes there’s nothing better than just chilling with the fam. 😀
So curious about the business you bought!
Awe, sounds like you had a great time!
Glad you had a good New Years Eve– your dinner looks amazing! Sweet potatoes definitely draw me in, as well 🙂
Happy New Year Gina!
I want to do an inspiration board, but I doubt I will be able to finish by tomorrow. I don’t even have the items required to create it. 🙁
Better late then never, right? 🙂
Any restaurant that serves sweet potato fries gets a thumbs up from me – I wish more places offered them, but the trend seems to be catching on. A night of bowling with the fam sounds like the perfect way to ring in the New Year if you ask me.
Love you Gina and best wishes for an amazing year for you and The Pilot! 🙂
Sounds like a lovely new years eve. Love the sweet potato fries too! Wishing you a fantastic 2011! 🙂
I had a night home alone this New Years Eve…I’m away at grad school while my boyfriend is halfway across the country in Texas. It would have been a decent night if the power hadn’t kept going out. Not bad, but not the greatest.